These things that I have learnt

It's August. August? August! For crying out loud.

I'm another year older and what have I discovered and learnt? Quite a lot actually.

1. Tim Minchin. I insist that you look him up on YouTube immediately. In fact, I'll even take the hard part out - click here for a taste.

2. Making jewellery is most relaxing and enjoyable.

3. I'm not nearly as wreckless with money as I thought I was.

4. By using a tiny brush to apply concealer it stays on much longer and gives far better coverage than using big clumsy fingers.

5. I've learnt and largely understood the process of the property ladder.

6. I can throw a mean right hook but only when I'm wearing pink boxing gloves.

7. Dr Ben Goldacre's blog; Bad Science. Have a peek. It's very good. Cuts the bullshit out of the reported 'science' by journo's and industry.

He also has a positive and vehement disregard for "Dr" Gillian McKeith "PhD" and if you read his book you'll soon understand why her doctorate has been put in speech marks to infer sarcasm.

8. Podcasts - as described in this post

9. Jillian Michaels - she was one of the trainers on the American TV show "The Biggest Loser".

Such an abhorrent name for a show aimed at the morbidly obese trying to lose weight.

Anyhoo, this woman is a teeny tiny American powerhouse, who, in the context of this dispicably named show, yells at people to work harder because she knows they can.

Her ultimate advice for weight loss? "Count your calories, work out when you can, and try to be good to yourself. All the rest is bullshit." This is why I like her and she is newly mounted on my own personal pedestal. She warrants a post all of her own.

10. I have learnt a thing or two from my MSc, none of which I can recall right now of course but enough information seeped into the grey matter to earn me a pass for my first year, and that's all that concerns me frankly.

I wonder what the age of 27 will bring? I know for certain that the next year will bring homeownership (we are in the exchanging contracts phase) and the possibility of being responsible for another little life. Hold yer horses, I'm talking about the canine variety. I can't wait.